Switch



E. ALSCHULER.

SWITCH'. v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1917. RENEWED JAN. 22, 1921.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921..

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SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1917 RENEWED JAN. 22, I921.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.-

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f UNITED I STAT-E3 T0 NA'r'roNAr. CARBON COMPANY INC.

. or NEW YORK.

hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as 'will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make 'and use the This invention-relates to switches for electric circuits "and more particularly to switches adapted for-use on battery hand lamps.

It is an object of the invention to produce Y a device of simple construction and reliable operation which may be manipulated by hand to cause'the intermittent lighting of the lamp asdesired, or in case it is desired that the lamp be retained in lighted condition independently of hand manipulation, means are provided for maintaining the lamp circuit in closed condition.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a'push button is used to manipulate a contact elementwhen intermittent lightingof the lamp is desired. To retain the lampinlighted condition a sliding thumbpiece operating a second contact element I which is separate from and whollyv independent 'fromthe first contact element is provided. i

The construction of the device will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in connection with theac'companyingdrawings, of

Figure 1 is a View of a battery hand lamp showing the casing'and switch in section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism of the switch; Fig. 3 is aview in section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail view of the slide-for manipulating one of the contact fingers; Fig. 5 is anenlarged'detail view of one of 5 thecontact fingers; F ig.6 is a similar view of the other contact finger; Fig-7 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of switch; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View of the'modified form of switch; Fig. '9 is a "viewinsection along the 1ine9-9 of Fig. 8;

PATENT OFFICE. v aNEsrAiJsciInLnR, or s'r. mm. MISSOURI, AssIGNoR, B Y MESNE ASSIGNMENTS; I

, or CLEVELA D, OHIO, A coRroaATIoN Specificationof Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 30, 1921 Application filed June 9, 1917, Serial No. 173,689.

Renewed January 22, 1921. Serial No. 439,319.

resents a metallic case of any form of bat teryrhand lamp to which it is desired to ap ply the invention. One end of the case is formed as a cover 11 which may be opened to permit a battery to be removed or replaced. The other end ofthe casing has a pocket 12 which serves as a reflector and also protects the lamp 13 which is set intoa screw-threaded socket portion 14 at the base of the pocket. The, battery 15 is provided with a springrfinger terminal 16adapted'to enga eone terminal of the lamp. The other termlnal 17 of the battery is formed as a spring contact finger lying adjacent to'but the con-H normally out of contact with the members of the switch.

The switch itself comprises a pair of spring contact elements 18 and 19 attached to the casing 10 by a common rivet 20. Element 18 is bent inwardly at its free end and provided with a button 21 extending through an aperture in the side of the casing and by which the element may be manipulated by hand. The other element 19 is somewhat shorter than element 18 but isprovided'with asimilar inwardly bent portion at its free end; The central portion of element 19 is bent up as at 22 to form a cam face. An aperture 23 is cut through element 18 to permit the cam face to extend through'the latter element and a corresponding aperture is provided in the casing. l

For the purpose of manipulating the contact element 19 a sliding member 24 is mounted upon the-outside of the casing.

This sliding member comprises flat end por-' tions provided with a suitable curvature corresponding to that of the casing. Between the end portions is a raised central portion which forms a chamber or recess occupied by the cam face portion of element 19. Sliding member 24 is provided with two tangs extending outwardly and adapted to project through slots in the casing at the sides of the cam member. These tangs are soproportioned that with the curved end portions of the sliding member they will retain the latter in place upon the casing and yet permit a sliding movement of the same length-.

battery. If it is desired to light the lamp directly under the control of the thumb or fingers of the user the button 21 is depressed to bring the element 18 against battery terminal 17. At the same time element 19 will also be depressed since it lies under element 18, but this will merely furnish an additional contact. The circuit of the lamp passes from the terminal 17 through the switch elements 18 and 19, casing 10, lamp socket 14, the lamp 13 and its other termi nal back through contact 16 to the other terminal of the battery. As long as button 21 is held depressed the lamp will be illuminated.

If it is desired thatthe lamp should burn continually without the necessity of holding button 21 in depressed position, slide 24 is pushed along the casing and by its cam action upon the portion 22 of contact element 19 will cause the latter to be depressed tov 10 the contact elements are formed from a single piece of metal which is cut as shown most clearly in Fig. 10 to form the contact element 18 and the contact element 19' which consists of two parts on opposite sides of the element 18. Both parts of element 19' are bent up as shown at 22 to form the cam faces which are engaged by the sliding member 24L mounted on the outside of the casing in a manner similar to that shown in the first modification. Contact element 18- is provided with a push button 21 extendingthrough an aperture in the casing of the hand lamp. The contact elements are attached to the casing by a rivet 20 which passes through their common end.

The operation of this modification of the invention is substantially the same as in the case of the first modification. If it be desired to light the lamp intermittently button 21 is depressed to establish the lampcircuit, which will be maintained as long as the element 18 is held in contact with the terminal 17 of the battery. When element 18 is actuated element 19 may or may not be depressed, depending, among other factors, upon the length of the cuts between the elements, the relative resiliency of the elements, and their relation to the common end which is not out. When it is de ired to cause a actuating said second contact element indetact element 18" may or may not engage the battery terminal 17' Y depending upon thefactors mentioned above.

ViThile the invention has been shown embodied in one particular construction it will be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. Contact mechanism for a battery hand lamp comprising, in combination, a conductor, a contact element adapted to be swung into engagement with said conductor, a sec- 0ndv contact element adapted to be swung by said first named element and into engagement with the conductor, and means for actuating the second contact element and retaining it in place against the conductor.

2. Contact mechanism for a battery hand lamp, comprising, in combination, a conductor, a contact element adapted to be swung into engagement with said conductor, a secondcontact element adapted to be swung by said first named element and into engage ment with said conductor, and means for pendently of the first contact member and retaining it in place against the conductor.

3. A switch for battery handlamps comprising, in combination, a pair of springcontact elements, means associated with one of said elements whereby both of said elements may be actuated simultaneously, and means associated with the other of said elements whereby it may be actuated inde-. pendently of said first-named element.

4:. A switch for battery hand lamps, comprising a pair of spring-contact elements, means associated with one of said elements whereby both of said elements may be actuated together, and means associated with the other of said elements whereby it may be actuated independently of said first-named element and retained in circuit-closing position.

5. A switch for battery hand lamps comprising a plurality of spring-contact elements adapted to engage the terminal of a battery, a cam formed in one of said elements, sliding means adapted to cooperate with said cam to retain said element in circuit-closing position, and, means associated with the other element for actuating both elements. I i

6. A switch for battery hand lamps comprising a plurality of spring-contact fingers attached to the casing of the hand lamp and adapted to engage a terminal of a battery withinsaid casing, means associated with one of said fingers and extending through an aperture in the other ofv said fingers and through the casing whereby the one finger may be actuated independently of the other finger, and means associated with said other finger and extending through the casing whereby both fingers may be actuated.

7. In a battery hand lamp, a switch for establishing a circuit between the battery and the lamp comprising a plurality of spring-contact fingers attached to the cas- 10 ing of said hand lamp, one of the fingers having a push-button extending through the casing for actuating both fingers and also having an aperture through-Which a bent portion of the other finger extends, and a sliding member mounted on the casing and adapted to engage the said bent portion to actuate the second contact finger independently of the first contact fin er.

In testimony whereof I a x m signature.

ERNEST ALSC ULER. 

